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Indian Navy opens investigation after local version of Elbit drone crashed during training

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The Indian Navy has launched an investigation after a Drishti 10 UAV, a locally manufactured version of Israel's Elbit Hermes 900 Starliner, crashed during a training exercise.
  • This marks the second such incident in less than two years, with the drone manufactured under license by the Adani Group.
  • Both Adani Group and Elbit Systems acknowledged the reports and committed to providing technical support during the assessment, while noting they lacked visibility into the specific mission details.

The Indian Navy is investigating a crash involving a Drishti 10 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that occurred during a training sortie near the village of Drampar in Gujarat. This incident marks the second time a drone of this type has crashed in the area within the last two years.

The Drishti 10 UAV is the local version of the Israeli Elbit Hermes 900 Starliner, manufactured under license by India's Adani Group. Representatives from both the Adani Group and Elbit Systems confirmed they were aware of the crash reports. They stated that commenting on the potential causes would be premature and referred to the incident as a possible "reported mishandling."

Given that the platform has been in operational deployment with the Indian Navy since its induction, we do not have visibility of the mission undertaken at the time of the incident.

— Adani Group and Elbit SystemsStatement from the manufacturers regarding their limited visibility into the circumstances of the Drishti 10 UAV crash.

"Given that the platform has been in operational deployment with the Indian Navy since its induction, we do not have visibility of the mission undertaken at the time of the incident," the companies said in a joint statement. They added, "We are in touch with the relevant authorities and remain committed to providing all necessary technical support and assistance required during the assessment."

The Hermes 900 Starliner is an advanced drone capable of flying on civilian routes and is considered a point of national pride in India. It aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to promote domestically manufactured defense systems. While 60% of its components are produced in India, the remaining 40% come from Israel. The drone boasts a 36-hour flight endurance, a 450 kg payload capacity, and can reach altitudes of 30,000 feet, making it a significant asset for India's defense capabilities, particularly in relation to China and Pakistan.

We are in touch with the relevant authorities and remain committed to providing all necessary technical support and assistance required during the assessment.

— Adani Group and Elbit SystemsCommitment from the manufacturers to assist the Indian Navy's investigation into the drone crash.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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